(un)Common Courtesy

I’m having trouble watching the news these days. I am so tired of men and women commentators trying to talk over each other. Interrupting someone used to be considered rude; now it’s the name of the game. Each side is so busy trying to get their viewpoint across they never hear what the other side is saying. It’s not a discussion; it’s not even a debate. It’s a free-for-all.

Wouldn’t it be nice if one side had two full minutes to present their position, and then the other side had two minutes to present theirs? No cross-talk, as in interruptions or snarky comments or commentary or derisive laughter or rolling of the eyes. Let’s see some mutual respect. Wouldn’t that be nice? I’d love to hear both sides! Please!

Someone recently visited our state capitol and was able to view the legislature “in session”. One man stood in the room giving a speech. No one else bothered to attend because they could see it on a podcast or television or computer or read it later (if so inclined). I wonder how many bothered. Wouldn’t it be nice if our representatives bothered to show up for work after they won the election rather than being elsewhere doing whatnot (probably campaigning) and still collecting a paycheck? Wouldn’t that be nice? I’d love it if our government officials lived by the same rules we ordinary folk do.

Wouldn’t it be nice if drivers allowed someone onto the freeway without feeling the urge to speed up and cut off anyone daring to merge? Wouldn’t it be nice to leave enough room that drivers could feed onto the freeway easily and keep traffic moving?